APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)

Description

H02M encompasses apparatus and methods for converting electrical power between different forms: AC-to-AC, AC-to-DC, and DC-to-DC conversions, as well as generating surge or pulse output from steady input power. This subclass covers rectifiers, inverters, frequency converters, voltage regulators, power supplies, and associated control and regulation circuits designed for use with utility mains, battery systems, or similar primary power sources. The classification includes both the converter hardware (transformers, semiconductor switching devices, reactive components) and control systems that manage conversion efficiency, output stability, and protection against electrical faults. Related switching power supplies, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and stabilized voltage/frequency supplies fall within this scope.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass H02M recorded 196,111 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 11,818 in 2013 to 21,110 in 2023 (+79%), peaking at 21,349 applications in 2022. The most active applicants in class H02 are SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (24,515 applications), MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION (11,346 applications) and SIEMENS (9,026 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings